Automatic control valve



Aug. 29, 1933. F. E. BEEBE I AUTOMATIC CONTROL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1931 I N VEN TOR. 8706 0690X 55145 A TTORNEYJ,

Aug. 29, 1933. F, E, 55555 1,924,177

AUTOMATIC CONTROL VALVE,

Filed July 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

0 n J WM a? v A TTORNE Patented Au 29, 1933 AUTOMATIC CONTROL VALVE Fredrick E. Beebe, Willowick, hio, assignor to George E. Beach, Cleveland, Ohio Application July 9, 1931. Serial No. 549,622

Claims.

This invention relates to a thermostatic control mechanism and; more particularly, to a thermo-sensitive valve for use in refrigerating systems. I

In refrigerating systems of the intermittent absorption type, it is necessary to provide means for controlling the supply of fuel, which will be fluid in nature, to the system in a manner responsive to the temperature conditions pre- 10 vailing, and so that a cooling effect will be maintained at all times. Refrigerating systems of this type comprise a boiler from which the refrigerating fluid is evaporated by the application of external heat and the vapor thus produced takes up heat in another part of the system, thus cooling the contents of the refrigerator. The quantity of vapor arising as a result of the combustion of a given quantity of fuel will suffice to maintain frost in the so-called 2 frost chamber of the refrigerator for a considerable period of time and it is desirable to have a means of control which will shut off the supply of fuel and prevent renewal of the supply for an extended period, i.e., until frost has dis- 5 appeared from the frost chamber.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a fuel valve responsive both to the conditions in the boiler of a refrigerating system and to conditions in the frost chamber of such system. Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which may be maintained in the closed position for an extended period of time before it is again opened. A further object of the invention is to provide a valve which is free to function under an impulse one modification of the invention with the valve mechanism in the closed position; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the valve mechanism in the open position; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the valve mechanism; Fig. 4 is a 55. side elevation, partly in section, of another modification of the invention, showing the valve mechanism in closed position; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of this modification showing the valve mechanism in the open position.

The valve mechanism comprises a valve casc0 ing 4 having exteriorly threaded projections 5 and 6 for connection with fuel gas inlet and outlet pipes. Within this casing is a centrally located valve seat member '7 having an aperture with a conical seat. The casing 4 is opened at the top and bottom and is interiorly threaded at both ends to receive cups 8 and 9. These cups have centrally located apertures to permit a tube 11 to pass therethrough and beyond the ends of the casing. A valve member 12 is mounted on the tube, the latter being threaded to receive it. Resilient diaphragms 13 and 14 engage the valve member 12 and are held tightly by the cups 8 and,9 and shoulders 15 at the bottoms of the threaded portions of the casing 4.

A plate 16 is attachedto the bottom of th casing 4 and carries a frame 17 in which is mounted a bellows 18 and a shaft 19. A conduit 21 connects the interior of the bellows 18 with a cylinder 22 located in the boiler of a refrigerating system. The shaft 19 carrying the bellows 18 is secured in the.frame 17 by means of nuts 23 and 24, the latter being knurled to permit adjustment of the bellows in relation to the valve member 12. 85

On the top of the valve casing 4 ismounted another plate 25 carrying the post 26 and the slotted guide post 27. A lever 28 is pivoted in the post 26, being insertedin a slot in this post and retained therein by a pin 29. This lever passes over the tube 11 and is adapted to contact therewith. The free end of the lever moves in the slotted guide post 27 and its position may be regulated by means of the nut 31 which is threaded over the post 27.

The plate 16 which carries the bellows 18 also supports another bellows 32, this latter being mounted in a frame 33 attached to the plate 16 by nuts 34. The bellows 32 is connected by means of a conduit 35 to a cylinder 36 placed in the frost chamber of, the'refrigerating system.

-A plunger 37.is mounted on the frost bellows 32 and is moved up and down thereby. Threaded onto this plunger is a member 38 having a groove 39 therein providing a shoulder 40 which is adapted to engage the end of the lever 28, this end being twisted at 41 to provide a horizontal edge for engagement with the shoulder 40. Adjustments may be made by screwing the head 38 up or down. A sleeve 42 surrounds the plung- .er 37 and is fitted down over another tube 43 which connects with the shaft 45 on the bellows 32. Between the element 38 and the tube 43, a cam element 44 is threaded on the plunger 37. This element has a sloping shoulder 46 at its lower end which is adapted to contact with the may respects with the modification discussedabove. However, this modification is adapted for use where the frost bellows 32 is filled, not with an aqueous liquid which expands on freezing, but with a gas or other fluid which expands on heating. This necessitates that the plunger 3'7 be constructed to open the valve on the upward movement of the plunger caused by the expansion of the bellows 32 when the latter becomes heated due to the warming up of the frost chamber. tion of the plunger to the valve also requires a different mounting.

As shown in Fig. 4, the valve parts and bellows are similar in all respects to those discussed in connection with the previous modification. The tube'll is adapted to be pushed down to open the valve by means of a lever but, whereas the frost bellows 32 in the foregoing modification was filled with an aqueous liquid which expanded the bellows when the frost chamber became cold, this bellows is nowfilled with a gas or other fluid which expands the bellows when the frost chamber becomes warm. In order to open the valve at the proper time, it is necessary that the construction of the plunger 37 and of the cooperating lever be modified.

The plunger 37 is now mounted in a halfround sleeve 47 having its open side toward a lever 48. The plunger has a cam 49 at its extremity with a conical or frusto-conical face.

51 adapted to contact with a sloping end 52 provided at the upper end of the sleeve 47. .A collar '53 is placed on the plunger some distance below the cam 49. On the upward stroke of the plunger due to the expansion of the bellows 32 when the frost chamber of the refrigerating system 'iswarmed up, this collar 53 pushes upwardly on the lever 48 which is mounted between its ends on a post 54. The'ends 55 and 56 of the lever are twisted at an angle of 90 in order to engage, respectively, the collar 53 and the tube 11. The cam 49 is placed far enough above the collar 53 so that it does not at any time contact with the lever 48, and a stop 57 limits the motionof the lever.

' fluid tobe evaporated from the boiler and the boiler becomes hot. The heat in the boiler will be transmitted to the cylinder '22 which contains ,glycerine orother suitable medium and the expansion consequent thereon will cause this gly- .cerine or other fluid to be forced into the bel-.-

lows 18, expanding the same. The expansion The lever transmitting the mo-' forces the shaft 19 upwardly, as well as the tube 11, thus causing the valve member 12 to seat against the valve seat 7 and close the valve. The resilient diaphragms 13 and 14 which were bowed downwardly while the valve was open, will now be bowed upwardly, imparting a snap action to the valve, and also tending to retain the valve on its seat.

While fuel gas is being supplied to the system, the frost bellows 32 has been in a contracted position due to the manner in which it functions. This bellows contains water or an aqueous solution of suitable melting point, as does the cylinder 36 connected thereto through the conduit 35. The frost chamber in which this cylinder 36 lies has become warm during the period immediately preceding the supply of fuel gas to the refrigerator. The evaporated refrigerating fluid from the boiler will now commence to cool 'the frost chamber and cause ice to form gradually in the cylinder 36 and, when this takes place, the expansion due to the fact that ice occupies a greater space than the 'water from which it is formed, will cause water to be forced into the bellows 32 and expand the same. This expansion forces the plunger 37 and the element 38 upwardly to a position where the shoulder 40 may engage the end 41 of the lever 28. No effect on the valve will be produced by this action, the valve remaining closed, but the plunger is now in a position to operate when further changes in the refrigeration syste ensue.

The quantum of heat supplied to the system by the last admission of fuel gas suflices to keepthe frost chamber cold for a considerable period of time and it is not desirable to supply further fuel untilthe frostchamberrises to a temperature where it is no' longer refrigerating. As

the effect of the refrigerating vapor is gradual-- 1y dissipated by heat from the contents of the refrigerator and by the surroundings, the ice in the cylinder 36 begins to melt and the water in the bellows 32 runs out, permitting the bellows to contract. This contraction pulls the plunger 37 downwardly since the plunger is directly connected to the bellows and the shoulder 40, which is in engagement with the lever 28,

forces this'lever downwardly, against the tube Fuel gas will now commence to flow again through the valve to be burned under the boiler and expansion of the fluid in the cylinder 22 will again cause the bellows 18 to expand and close the valve. However, if the shoulder 40 the valve could not be closed against the pull of the contracted bellows 32. In order to free.

the mechanism for closing the valve, the plunger- 37 is normally positioned so that ,it can engage the lever only when bent inwardly toward the lever end. The plunger tends normally to engage the lever but, when the frost bellows 32- contracts, the first part of the downward motion of the element 38 is suiflcient to, open the valve due to the resilience of the diaphragms 13 and 14 so that, during the latter part of the downward travel, the plunger does notv need should maintain contact with the lever end 41,

to engage the lever. When the valve has been opened, the plunger completes its downward travel, during which the sloping end 46 on the lower part of the element 44 commences to engage the edge of the sleeve 42 and the plunger is gradually forced into a vertical position corresponding to the centering of the shoulder 46 in the sleeve 42 and away from the lever end 41. This leaves the lever 28 free to assume its upper position when the bellows 18 again expands and forces the tube 11 thereagainst. The elements 38 and 44 being separate, with 'the lower element carrying the shoulder 46, permits adjustments to be made both of the groove 39 in relation to the lever end 41 and of the shoulder 46 in relation to the upper edge of the sleeve 42.

The manner in which the modification of my apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5 operates is fundamentally the same with changes made necessary by the characteristics of the hot-ex panded bellows 32. In this modification, heating of the boiler arising from combustion of fuel thereunder causes the bellows 18 to expand and close the valve. The bellows 32 will be contracted for some time while the frost chamber cools off and commences to warm up again. When the frost chamber has become sufficiently warm, the bellows 32 will expand due to the fact that the gas in the cylinder 36 has commenced to expand. As this bellows rises, it raises the plunger 3'7 and brings the collar 53 against the end 55 of the lever 48. The opposite end 56 of the lever presses down on the tube 11 and opens the valve with a; snap action due to the diaphragms 13 and 14. The plunger continues its rise and, at the top of its travel, the conical surface 51 of the cam 49 contacts with the lower sloping surface of the end 52 which forces the plunger into a vertical position within the half-round sleeve 47. This action com-.

pels the plunger out of its normal position, which is one leaning toward the lever and frees the lever from contact with the collar 53. As a result, the lever is now free to be forced out of the way when the bellows 18, connected with the boiler, again closes the valve. Of course, when the frost chamber again begins to warm up, the bellows 32 will have in the meantime contracted and drawn the cam 49 away from the sloping end 52 so that the collar 53 is again in position to tip the lever 48 on its renewed upward travel.

The control valve above described is particularly adapted for use with intermittent absorption refrigerating systems, but may also be used in other installations where it is desired to control the intermittent flow of a fluid. The mechanism provides for delayed opening of the fuel valve in accordance with the characteristics of the refrigerating system and mechanism for transporting the thermostatic effect is so constructed that each bellows can perform its function without-interference from the other. It will also be understood that the valve may be replaced by a switch where electric current is used to heat the boiler of the refrigerating system, such a valve being disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 520,006, filed March 4, 1931, without departing from the principle of the invention herein described.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may "be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a thermostatic control mechanism, a. valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a central valve seat member, a valve member mounted in said casing on a tube projecting beyond the ends of said casing, a ternperature responsive means adapted to contact with said tube to close the valve, a lever positioned to contact with the opposite end of said tube, and another temperature responsive means adapted to open said valve by means of said lever.

2. In a thermostatic control mechanism, a valve comprising .a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a central valve seat member, a valve member mounted in said casing on a tube projecting beyond the ends of said casing, a'

bellows adapted to contact with said tube to close the valve, a lever positioned to contact with the opposite end of said tube, and another bellows adapted to open said valve by means of said lever.

3. In a thermostatic control mechanism, a valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a central valve seat member, a valve member mounted in said casing on a tube projecting beyond the ends of said casing, a bellows adapted to contact withsaid tube to close said valve, a lever positioned to contact with the opposite end of said tube, a plunger having a shoulder adaped to'engage said lever, and another bellows adapted to pull down said plunger and to open said valve by means of said lever.

4. In a thermostatic control meohanism a valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a central valve seat member, a valve member mounted in said casing on a tube projecting beyond the ends of said casing, a bellows adapted to contact with said tube to close said valve, a lever positioned to contact with the opposite end of said tube, a plunger having a shoulder adapted to engage said lever, and an: other bellows adapted to push up on said plunger and to open said valve by means of said lever.

5. In a thermostatic control mechanism, a valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a central valve seat member, a valve member mounted in said casing on a tube projecting beyond the ends of said casing, a bellows adapted to contact with said tube to close said valve, a lever positioned to contact with the opposite end of said tube, a plunger having a shoulder adapted to engage said lever, another bellows adapted to pull down said plunger and open said valvethrough said lever, a sleeve surrounding said plunger and a cam surface on said plunger adapted to cooperate with said sleeve to disengage said plunger from said lever.

6. In a thermostatic control mechanism, a valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a central valve seat member, a valve member mounted in said casing on a tube projecting beyond the ends of said casing, a bellows adapted to contact with said tube to close said plunger adapted to cooperate with said sleeve to disengage said plunger from said lever when the valve is opened.

7. In a thermostatic control mechanism, a valve adapted to, be moved into closed position by one temperatureresponsive means and to be moved into open position by another temperature responsive means, a lever positioned to trans-r mit motion in one direction to said valve, a plunger connected to said last-mentioned temperature responsive means and recessed to engage said lever, a sleeve surrounding said plunger and a cam on said plunger adapted to force said plunger away from said lever when the cam approaches the end of said sleeve.

8. In a thermostatic control mechanism, a valve adapted to be moved into closed position by one temperature responsive means and to be moved into open position by another temperature responsive means, a lever positioned to transmit motion in one direction to said valve, a plunger connected :to said last-mentioned temperature responsive means and having a collar for engaging said lever, a half-round sleeve surrounding said plunger and having its open side' toward said lever, a sloping end on said sleeve and a cam on said plunger adapted to force said plunger away from said lever when the'cam contacts with said sloping end.

valve seat member, an apertured cup mounted in each side, a resilient sealing diaphragm mounted between'each of said cups and said temperature responsive element when said valve is in the open position. v

10. In a thermostatic control mechanism having a casing, a valve seat member therein, a valve member, resilient diaphragms between said casing and said valve member, and temperature responsive elements adapted respectively to close and open said valve, the combination which comprises a tube in said valve member extending beyond the ends of said casing, one of said temperature-responsive elements being adapted to contact with one end of said tube to close the valve, a lever adapted to press on the other end of said tube toopen the valve, 9. plunger connected to theother of said temperature responsive elements and having a shoulder adapted to engage the end of said lever, and cam means associated with said plunger to force the latter out of engagement with said lever when the valve :has been opened.

- FREDRICK E. BEEBE. 

